Shore excursions...

[princeya]

Dear Guys,

I have more question to ask you guys...

It is about Shore Excursions...

Why the Carnival Shore Excursion prices are so expensive?

Do you have any suggesstion for the shore excursions? I want something cheap..

I will be in Cozumel, Key West, Belize, Progr eso Yutacan...

any idea for the cheapest sore excusion?

Thank you so much.

 

[Mbandy]

Try the website www.shoretrips.com. Here's a link to the site :thumb

http://www.shoretrips.com/

 

[princeya]

Thanks for the link but the prices are the same as Carnival...

 

[tndr715]

I am going on Conquest at the end of Aug and this is hurricane season. If the port call is changed will I be able to get a refund on excursions purchased ahead of time.

 

[Susan O]

tndr715 - if Carnival changes a port or cancels a shore tour then you will get a complete refund credited to your sail and sign account..

princeya - I've been to all those places at least once. Here's my advice:

Key West - do NOT do the trolley tour or any of the museum shoretours thru Carnival. You can pick up the trolley yourself in town for less than half the price. The trolley will take you around to all those museums and other sights and you can get on and off any of the trolleys at anytime as long as you have your ticket. If you are interested in one of the water-related excusions in Key West I can't help you. I have heard that they were not worth the price.

Belize - I've heard fantastic things about the cave-tubing. I've personally been to the Baboon Sanctuary and have been snorkeling at Goff Caye. Both were wonderful. My parents loved the ruins. Just about any of the excursions here are well worth the money.

Cozumel - I've been to Cozumel so many times. The excursion to the ruins is great but VERY long. The snorkeling is okay but not as good as Belize. Playa Sol (I think that is the name) is a great place to go and just chill at the beach. If you walk around town to shop stay on the main streets and be firm when saying no.

Progresso - don't bother getting off the ship.

Hope this helps!

 

[Jeff & Susana]

"Why the Carnival Shore Excursion prices are so expensive?"

Expensive is a relative term, best used when comparing products side by side, however it also can be used in a general sense so here goes...............


Although most (if not all) cruise line 'promoted' shore excursions are a bit more costly than privately booking your own there is one important thing to consider.

"One of the many benefits of booking excursions through Carnival is a guarantee that the ship will remain in port until all guests are back onboard. "

Many ports offer long excursions that require a large amount of your time in port and many of those are long jouneys far away from the cruise port. Any sort of delay and you may witness your ship leaving without you.
It happens every day.

On our first cruise we booked no excursions.
On our second we did our own.
Catalina Island was fine. Too small to be more than a few minutes from the ship.
San Diego was no big deal either as we just took a taxi to the zoo.
Ensenada however we took a private van on a long trip to La Buffadora (the blow hole) and flea market.
Looking back that probably was not a smart thing to do. We made it but we were a little late in returning.

After that, all of our excursions have been booked via the cruise line.

In San Juan this year we were late in returning from horseback riding.
Although they state we are in port from 5PM -12AM the ship pulls up the ramps at 11:30PM.
We were the last passengers to arrive.
Had we been on our own they may not have been there waiting.

You can easily save 25%-50% by booking your own.
Our last cruise cost us about $2,600 in all.
If I had booked our shore excursions on my own I could have saved maybe $150.00 or so.

I like the added insurance and don't mind the cost.


Jeff & Susana

 

[Cruiser-Jake]

I dont know about the cheapest, but I just got home from the Elation May 8th cruise and we stopped at Progresso, i think yuo should book something there, We did not and now we think back and we should have. If you donw book something there, there is really nothing to do! In Cozumel, we didnt book a shore excursion but we did rent those scooter from a local resident and drove arounf the Island all day long. Eaco scooter was US $20 and that included all your gas, insurence and unlimited miles for up to 12 hours. It was GREAT!! Finally in Belize, we did book the cave tubing and that was FANTASTIC!! It was one of the best shore ecursions that i have ever been on and I have been on a lot. The transportation was great, the tour guides were great, the Jungle tour was great and the tubing was AMAZING!! You will not regret it if you do it!!

 

[Justwondering]

We are going to Belize in Sept. on Carnival Elation. The only ruins I've seen are Tulum so I don't have alot of knowlege about the different Maya sites. Could someone tell me the main difference in Xunantunich and Altun Ha. We are booking an excursion off of the ship so we don't take a chance of missing the ship. Both are about the same price with a meal included for Xunantunich, but no meal for Altan Ha. One takes 7 hrs, the other 6 hrs. (we are in port for 10 hrs)

I have severe knee problems, so I don't know if I will get to climb. I mention that because I've read that the views are wonderful. Will both be equally enjoyable to a novice?